Campaign-finance files onerous

State reports on paper, not in computer-searchable format

Stephen B. Thornton
Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson (left) and Democratic candidate Mike Ross attend the Hope Watermelon Festival on Aug. 9. Between them they’ve reported raising $6.3 million for their campaigns and have filed only paper reports on the donations and spending.

Arkansas ranks as one of the most difficult states for the public to learn who's donating campaign money to candidates for state office -- especially in the biggest, most-talked-about races.